Guilty plea
entered on
porn charge
MARLBORO — A township resident is facing a three-year sentence in state prison after pleading guilty to a charge of distribution of child pornography.
James J. Shanley, 45, of Woodcliff Boulevard, pleaded guilty to the charge before state Superior Court Judge Francis P. De Stefano, sitting in Freehold, on Jan. 8, according to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Clark, director of the Computer Crimes Unit in the Mon-mouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Shanley was arrested by Marlboro police at his home in the Morganville section of the community on Feb. 20, 2002, and the case has been pending since the time of his arrest.
Shanley remains free on bail pending his sentencing, Clark said, adding that the Marlboro resident pleaded guilty to sending a photograph depicting child pornography over the America On-Line (AOL) Internet service.
Prior to being sentenced, Shanley will be evaluated by professionals at the Avenel Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Woodbridge. Under the terms of a plea agreement worked out by the prosecution and the defense, Shanley will receive a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and will be required to register with law enforcement authorities as a convicted sex offender under the terms of New Jersey’s Megan’s Law, according to Clark.
As reported in the News Transcript at the time of Shanley’s arrest, Clark said the Marlboro man was apprehended after a complaint by an AOL subscriber was issued. The AOL subscriber received the unsolicited picture via e-mail.
Distribution of child pornography is a second-degree crime, punishable by up to 10 years in jail. This was Shanley’s first conviction, Clark said.
— Mark Rosman